For Every Action, There is an Equal and Opposite Reaction

Chapter 7

He then heard everyone screaming, he looked up and finally realized that the plane was now falling.

Launchpad quickly ran to the controls and thankfully, he was able to make the crash less severe. Nevertheless, they did crash, and Dewey was in trouble.

"DEWFORD DUCK!" Scrooge shouted after everyone was out of the plane and settled.

Dewey gulped.

"Yes, Uncle Scrooge?" He asked, grinning nervously.

"WHY DID YOU GET UP FROM YOUR SEAT!?"

"I...well..." Dewey looked around at everyone.

Everyone was looking at him. Even Launchpad was looking at Dewey with an upset expression.

Dewey started to cry a bit. He just wanted to find out what had happened to Della... and now everyone was upset at him.

Dewey held the paper that he still had close to him and he fell onto the ground. Everyone was silent as Dewey sat on the ground, with his head on his knees and tears falling from his eyes freely.

Suddenly, Dewey heard Scrooge sigh and sit down next to him. Scrooge put his hand on Dewey shoulder and looked at him.

"Dewey... What's going on?"

***

Scrooge stared at the pictures that were now fully taped together. One was of him standing in front of a rocket ship and the other was of him, Donald, and Della standing behind three eggs. Dewey had explained how he and the others had been researching about his mother and how he wanted Scrooge to explain everything to them. After Scrooge had agreed, they all put the two pictures back together and now it was time for Scrooge to explain himself.

"It was just before you were hatched. Your mother, your uncle Donald, and I had been going on amazing adventures for years and things were grand! Except, we'd been just about everywhere. Ever the aviator, your mother devised a plan to explore the greatest uncharted territory of all... OUTER SPACE! Della had already been all over the earth, she wanted to give you boys the stars! Donald thought it was too risky, especially with you three on the way..."

"Wait! '...with you three on the way...'?" Dewey asked.

"Does this have something to do with that picture of you, Uncle Donald, and mom with three eggs instead of two?" Louie added.

"Err... with you two on the way! Yes! I meant 'two'!" Scrooge responded nervously. "Anyway... So, I did the only logical thing... I built the rocket and didn't tell Donald... or anyone. It was meant to be a surprise for Della to celebrate your birth, but your mother was always good at sniffing out surprises... She found the rocket and decided to go for a little test run in orbit. Neither of us could have predicted that cosmic storm... But we both knew a little pangalactic precipitation wouldn't stop her! After all, she was Della Duck! Curse me kilts, was that girl stubborn! I tried to talk her through it. Thought if anyone could make it, it was her! Until that very last bolt... I couldn't keep her safe... The rocket and your mother were lost to the inky abyss of space... Your Uncle Donald and I never spoke again... Until you two showed up on my doorstep."

Everyone stood there in silence, looking at the ground. Until suddenly, Dewey spoke up.

"That... that's not the full story..."

"What!?" Scrooge responded nervously.

"There's more that happened... You didn't explain the second picture with the three eggs and you're not one to mess up when you're talking... you meant to say 'three' instead of 'two'... I just know it!" Dewey glared at Scrooge.

"Yeah..." Louie added quietly. "Finish."

Scrooge sighed, it was already hard for him to talk about what had happened to Della, and now he had to tell everyone what else had happened.

"...Well... Dewey, Louie... you aren't twins... you're triplets..." Scrooge started.

Their eyes went wide.

"So... wait... WE HAVE ANOTHER SIBLING!?" Louie questioned.

Scrooge nodded, "... a brother..."

"What happened to him?" Dewey questioned.

"Me and Donald aren't completely sure... but our best guess was that he ended up in space with Della..." Scrooge answered.

"So, he's gone too...?" Louie responded.

Scrooge nodded.

"And... IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Dewey screamed, glaring at Scrooge.

"What? No, I-"

"You built our mom a crazy-dangerous, super-rocket!" Dewey explained.

"Which she stole early!"

"And you're the richest duck in the world! Why didn't you send up more ships to look for them!?" Louie added.

"I SPARED NO EXPENSE!" Scrooge responded.

"Now, boys, you don't know-" Mrs. Beakley tried to help, but everyone ignored her.

"Yeah, right! Cheap old Scrooge probably bailed as soon as it put a dent in his money bin!" Dewey exclaimed.

"Take it easy, Dewey. He may have a point. Even if gifting an experimental rocket to a mother of three was clearly a terrible idea!" Webby yelled.

"This is a family matter! YOU ARE NOT FAMILY!" Scrooge shouted at her.

"See here, McDuck. You will not speak to my granddaughter that way!" Mrs. Beakley stood up for Webby.

"You will not speak to me that way! None of you! After everything I do for you, you're all nothing but trouble!" Scrooge shouted.

He then stormed away.

"Let's get back to Uncle Donald as soon as we can..." Dewey said quietly.